Rail-locking cam and brace for tie-plates.



' R. LAW.

- RAIL LOOKING 0AM AND BE FOR TIE PLATES.

APPLIOATION FILED 26. 1909.

949,908. Y Patented Feb.22,1910.

A v (I ROBERT LAW, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

RAIL-LOCKING CAM AND BRACE FOR TIE-PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 26. 1909. Serial No. 529,863.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, ROBERT LAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in

the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Rail Locking Cams and Braces for Tie Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a rail locking cam and a brace for tie plates.

In application Serial No. 456,105 filed October 5, 1909, I have shown and described a tie plate formed of an elongated rectangular plate of. wrought metal, struck up in a punch and die press to form a pair of tubular bosses on each end portion of the plate in position to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail and reinforced holes for spikes securing the rail.

My present invention relates to the combination with said tie vplate of a rail locking cam and brace and the adaptation of the plate thereto, whereby the rail is both frictionally locked against creeping on the ties, and better secured against spreading, by lateral pressure on the tread of the rail.

With these objects in view my invention consists in providin each end portion of my tie plate aforesai equidistant from the abutment bosses, and nearer the ends of the plate, with a tubular boss struck up in like manner as the bosses forming abutments for the rail as aforesaid, and pivotally mounting and securing thereon a locking cam brace, which extendsbetween the abutment bosses and frictionally engages the edge of the adjacent flange, and, preferably also, the tread and web of the rail, as is more fully hereinafter set forth and described and illustrated in the drawings, in which I Figure l is a top view in perspective of the tie plate constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the rail mounted and secured thereon and provided with looking braces in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line AA'of Fig.

2. Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of a locking cam brace. Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the same. Fig. 6 isa top perspective view of a modified form of locking cam brace, and Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the same.

In the drawings 1 is an elongated rectangular tie plate" having formed on the upper face of each end portion, by being struck up in a punch and die press, as aforesaid, a pair of tubular bosses 2 in position to form abutments for the flanges 3' of a rail 4, when the rail is mounted transversely on the plate between the pairs, and a tubular boss 5' which is located nearer the end of the plate 1 than the adjacent pair of bosses 2, and equi-distant from each boss of the pair. Each boss 5 ,is provided with a locking cam brace 6, having a body portion 7 of a width less than thedistance between the adjacent bosses 2 and that is faced on its under side to coincide with and rest 011 the upper face of the plate 1, and having near its outer end the transverse orifice 8, counterbored from the underv face to adapt it to be pivotally mounted on the boss 5. The under face of the body portion 7 extends to a cam shoulder 9 which is the same distance from the center of the orifice .8 in said face, on the center line of the face, as the axis of the boss 5 is from the outer edge of a rail flange mounted on the plate 1 and engaging the adjacent bosses 2, so that when the body por tion is pivotally mounted on the boss 5 between a pair of bosses 2 the center portion of the shoulder 9 is in engagement with the outer edge of the rail flange. The shoulder 9 c0- incides with the arc of a circle described by a radius of greater length than the distance between the center of the arc and the center of the orifice 8, and from a center'that is in alinement with those two points, whereby the shoulder is made equally eccentric at each end portion to an are described from the center of the orifice 8 by a radius of a length equal to the distance between said center and the center of the shoulder, whereby when the body portion 7 is mounted on a boss 5 with its shoulder 9 centrally engaging the edge of the rail flange 3 any pivotal movement of the body 7 in either direction increases by geometrical progression the pressure of the shoulder on the edge of the flange, and it will be readily seen that when the'locking cam brace 6 is so mounted on each of the bosses 5, only slight longitudinal movement of the rail -1- in either direction will produce enormous increase of pressure of the shoulders 9 oppositely on the rail flanges, suflicient to lock the rail. The

faces of the shoulders are preferably serrated to increase their grip on the rails.

In forming the shoulder 9, the under side l with an integral brace extension 11, which ends 14. engaging the web and tread of the ably secured in such position by half round heads) .in the bosses of the body portion 7 is also cut away at an upward angle to form a face 10 overhanging the shoulder and adapted to rest on the upper face of the rail flange, when the under face of the body portion 7 is resting on the tie plate 1.

The body portion 7 is preferably provided extends at a suitable angle upward to engagement with the tread 12 and web 13 of the rail at the angle of their junction. The free end 14: of the brace extension 11 is formed to coincide with an arc of a circle concentric to the arc of the shoulder 9, whereby itcooperates with the shoulder 9 to lock the rail against more than slight longitudinalmovement, while at the same time it forms a strong brace supporting the rail against lateral pressure on the tread tendingto spread or overturn the rail.

lVhen the locking braces 6 are in position on the bosses 5 with their shoulders 9 engaging the rail flanges, and with their brace rail as shown and-described, the rail, the tie plate, and the locking braces are preferspikes 15 having elongated heads for engaging the flanges of the rail, in one or both of the bosses 2 of each pair of abutments, and by spikes 16 (having rounded heads and rounded body portions adjacent to the 5, driven into the tie 17 upon which the rail and tie plate aresupported. It is manifest however that other forms of spikes may be used without departing from the principle of my construction, and I therefore do not limit my invention to the kind of spikes above described. .Rails thus mounted and secured are firmly braced against the lateral pressure that tends to spread them, and only a slight longitudinal movement of the rail is suliicient to produce a vise-like grip on the base flanges of the rail by the cams 9 and 14: of each tie plate, and it is manifest that the creeping of the rails that is produced by trains running on them in either direction is so limited by the locking cams as to be negligible, while they permit the natural expansion and contraction of the rails produced by changes of temperature. The abutment bosses 2 form stops for the cams which limit this movement of the cams in either direction, and prevent them from being moved beyond their points of greatest eccentricity. It is apparent also that a portion ofthe weight of trains is distributed by the locking braces to the outer end portions of the tie plate, whereby any tendency of the tie plate to buckle or bend along the edges of the rail flanges is neutralized. It is apparent also that a rail being so locked against -longitudinal movement greatly reduces, if it does l aaaeoa not wholly prevent, the wear of the rail upon the abutment bosses 2 and on the spike heads.

While the locking cam brace 6 having the brace extension 11 is preferred, it is manifest that for straight tracks the brace extension 11 maybe omitted therefrom, and,

in Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a locking cam 6. from which the extension 11 is omitted,

(but which is otherwise of the same form as cam brace 6 is also adapted to prevent any buckling or bending of the tie plate along the line of the rail flange. This lateral pressure is distinctfrom the downward pressure produced by the extension 11 of the locking brace 6, and either pressure alone is sufiicient to neutralize the tendency to buckle a plate along such line.

What I claim to be new is-- 1.. The combination with a tie plate having a pair of tubular bosses on each end por-- tion adapted to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on the plate between the pairs and reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and the plate to a tie, and having a tubular pivot boss formed between a pair of the abutment bossesand an end of the plate, of a locking brace pivotally mounted and secured on the pivot boss and extending between the adjacent abutment bosses and movable through a limited are there between, said locking brace having a transverse cam shoulder adapted to engage the edge of a rail flange that is in engagement with the ad jacent abutment bosses, and operating to produce increasing locking pressure on the rail flange as longitudinal movement of the rail produces pivotal movement of the looking brace in one direction.

2. i The combination of a tie plate having a pair of tubular bosses at each end portion adapted to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on the plate between the pairs and. reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and the plate to a tie and'having a tubular pivot boss formed between a pair of the abutment bosses and an end of the plate, of a locking brace pivotally mounted and secured on the pivot boss and extending between the adjacent abutment bc-sses and movable through a limited are there between, said locking brace having a transverse cam shoulder adapted to engage the edge of a rail flange that isin engagment with the adjacent abutment bosses, and operating to produce increasing locking pressure on the raiPfiange as longitudinal movement of the rail produces pivotal movement of the locking brace in either direction.

3. The combination with a tie plate having a pair of tubular bosses on each end portion adapted to form side abutments for the brace pivotally mounted and secured on each pivot boss and extending between the adjacent abutment bosses and movable through a limited arc there between, each locking brace having a transverse cam shoulder adapted to engage the edge of a rail flange that is in engagement with the adjacent abutment bosses, and operating to produce increasing locking pressure on the rail flange as longitudinal movement of the rail produces pivotal movement of the locking brace in one direction. 4. The combination of a tie plate 'havmg a pair of tubular bosses on each end portion adapted to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on the plate be tween-the pairs and reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and the plate to a tie and having a tubular pivot boss formed between each pair of the abutment.

bosses and an end of the plate, of a locking brace pivotally mounted and secured on each pivot boss and extending between the adacent abutment bosses and movable through a limited are there between, each locking brace having a transverse cam shoulder adapted to engagetheedge of arail flange that is in engagement with the adjacent abutment bosses, and operating to produce increasing locking pressure on the rail flange as longitudinal movement of the rail produces pivotal movement of the locking brace in either direction. v i

5. The combination with a tie plate having a pair o'ftubular bosses at each end portion adapted to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on the plate between the pairs and reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and the plate to a tie and having a tubular pivot boss formed between a pair of the abutment bosses and an end of the plate, of a locking brace pivotally mounted and securedon the pivot boss and extending between the a'dja-' cent abutment bosses and movable through a limited are there between, said locking brace having cam shoulders adapted respectively to engage the edge of a rail flange that is in engagement with the adjacent abutment bosses and the web and tread of the rail at their junction, and operatingto produce increasing locking pressure on the rail flange as longitudinal movement of the rail produces pivotal movement of the locking brace in one direction.

6. The combination witha tie plate having a pair of tubular bosses at each end'portion adapted to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on ghe plate between the pairs and reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and the plate to a tie and having a tubular pivot boss formed between a pair of the abutment bosses and an end of the plate, of a locking bra-ce pivotally mounted and secured on the pivot boss and extendingbetween the adjacent abutment bosses and movablethrough a limited are there between, said locking is in engagement with the adjacent abutment bosses and the web and tread of. the

' railat their junction, and operating to produce increasing locking pressure on the rall flange as longitudinal movementof the rail produces pivotal movement of the locking bracein'ei-ther direction.

7. The combination with a tie plate having a pair of tubular bosses on each end portion adapted to form side'abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on the plate between the pairs and reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and theplate toa tie and having a tubular pivot boss formed between each pair of the abutment bosses and an end of the plate, ofa lockin brace pivotally mounted and secured on each.

tread of the rail. at their junction, and operatmg to produce lnc-reasing locklng pressure onthe rail as longitudinal movement ofthe rail produces pivotal movement of'the looking brace in one direction.

8. The combination with a pair of tubular bosses on each end portion adapted to form side abutments for the base flanges of a rail mounted on: the plate between the pairs and reinforced holes for spikes to jointly secure the rail and the plate to a" tie and having a tubular pivot boss formed between each pair of the abutment bosses and an endof the plate, of a locking brace pivotally mounted and secured on each a-t'ie plate having pivotboss and extending between the .ad-

jacent abutment bosses and movable through a limited are there between said locking brace having transverse cam shoulders adapted respectively to engage the edge of a rail-flange that is in engagement with the adjacent abutment bosses, and the Web and my name in the presence of two subscribing tread of the di'ail at their junctilcgn, and operwitnesses, this 17th day of November, 1909. 'atin topro uce increasin 100 in ressure on t i ie rail as longitudinal movemin t of the 7 ROBERT LAWV' 5 mil produces pivotal movement of the lock- In presence of ing brace in either direction. WM. J. FRITSOHE,

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed M. S. SMITH. 

